Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
Is fear of Covid-19 enough for someone to offer his ṣalāh (ritual prayer) at home? Can it fall under the Islamic concept of “fear of illness and or enemy”?
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathabah.
One of the objectives of religion is “to protect the self and humanity in general” from all harms and destruction.- (See: Maqāsid Al-Shari’ah, Al-Ma’had Al-Orubīy, Page 25)[1]
In a circumstance wherein a plague or epidemic is rampant, and medical experts are advising to protect oneself and others from the spread by limiting gatherings, then in such a dire situation, if one has reliable fear to catch the virus, it is islamicaly allowed to perform prayer at home and avoid congregational prayers at the masjid. If the threat is not as eminent, and one is merely resorting to unsubstantiated fears or doubts, then it is advised for muslim men to join congregational prayers at the masājid.
“Do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [and harm].”- (Qurʾān: 2:195). [2]
“The Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) said, “[As a safeguard,] one should stay away from the diseased, as one runs away from a lion.” – (Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī 5707)[3]
Imam Ibn ʿAbd Al-Barr writes, – “Anything that would inconvenience one’s fellow worshipers in the masjid such as anyone afflicted with diarrhea, insanity, misbehaviour, odour syndrome, virus epidemic or anything else that would inconvenience the public, it is permitted for the public to keep such an individual away, as long as the ailment is present. Once the condition ceases, they may return to the masjid.” – (See: Fatḥ Al-Barr Li-Al-Tamhīd, Vol 5, Page 15, Majmu’ah Al-Tuhuf)[4]
During the outbreak of the Amwās plague in Palestine, ʿAmr Ibn Al-Ās (may Allāh be pleased with him) announced, “O people, when these plagues occur, they ignite like fire, therefore go to high grounds, away from the affected areas.” – (Musnad Aḥmad, 1697)[5]
“Whoever hears the call to the prayer and does not come, his prayer is not valid, except for those who have a [genuine] excuse.” – (Sunan Ibn Mājah 793)[6]
ʿAbd Allāh Ibn ʿAbbās (may God be pleased with him) reported that he instructed the muʾadhin on a stormy day as follows, “[During the adhān,] when you have articulated, “I testify that there is no god but Allāh; I testify that Muḥammad is the Messenger of Allāh” do not say, “Come to the prayer!” rather say, “Offer prayer in your houses”. [Upon hearing this,] some people disapproved of this instruction. Ibn ʿAbbās stated, “Are you astonished at this? the Prophet of Allāh (peace and blessings upon him), who is better than I, did this himself. Jumuʿah prayer is no doubt mandatory, but I do not wish [to force] you [to] come out and walk in mud and slippery ground.” – (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 699)[7]
Only Allāh knows best.
[1] حفظ النفس وهو حفظها من جميع أسباب التلف والفساد – مقاصد الشرعية لعبد الله بن يوسف الجديع ص ٢٥
[2] - البقرة ١٩٥ وَلَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَة
[3] وَفِرَّ مِنَ الْمَجْذُومِ كَمَا تَفِرُّ مِنَ الأَسَدِ – البخاري ٥٧٠٧
[4] فَفِي الْقِيَاسِ أَنَّ كُلَّ مَا يَتَأَذَّى بِهِ جِيرَانُهُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ بِأَنْ يَكُونَ ذَرِبَ اللِّسَانِ سَفِيهًا عَلَيْهِمْ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ مُسْتَطِيلًا أَوْ كَانَ ذَا رِيحَةٍ قَبِيحَةٍ لَا تَرِيمُهُ لِسُوءِ صناعته أو عاهة موذية كَالْجُذَامِ وَشَبَهِهِ وَكُلُّ مَا يَتَأَذَّى بِهِ النَّاسُ إِذَا وُجِدَ فِي أَحَدِ جِيرَانِ الْمَسْجِدِ وَأَرَادُوا إِخْرَاجَهُ عَنِ الْمَسْجِدِ وَإِبْعَادَهُ عَنْهُ كَانَ ذَلِكَ لَهُمْ مَا كَانَتِ الْعِلَّةُ مَوْجُودَةً فِيهِ حَتَّى تَزُولَ فَإِذَا زَالَتْ بِإِفَاقَةٍ أَوْ تَوْبَةٍ أَوْ أَيِّ وَجْهٍ زَالَتْ كَانَ لَهُ مُرَاجَعَةُ الْمَسْجِدِ – فتخ البر ج٥/ص١٥
[5] وعاش المسلمون في ظلّ هذا الوباء أيّاماً عصيبة، حتى كانت نهايته على يد العبقري عمرو بن العاص رضي الله عنه، فحينما مات معاذ رضي الله عنه واستخلف عمرو بن العاص قام في الناس خطيباً فقال: أيها الناس، إن هذا الوجع إذا وقع فإنما يشتعل اشتعال النار، فتحصّنوا منه في الجبال وكأنّه يعني أن حال هذا الوباء كحال النار، فإذا لم تجد النار ما تحرقها خمدت، فكانت نصيحته للناس أن يتفرّقوا في النواحي شيئاً من الزمن، وبهذه النظرة السديدة ارتفع الوباء – مسند احمد ١٦٩٧
[6] مَنْ سَمِعَ النِّدَاءَ فَلَمْ يَأْتِهِ فَلاَ صَلاَةَ لَهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ عُذْرٍ – ابن ماجه ٧٩٣
[7] ففي الصحيحين من حديث عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ: أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِمُؤَذِّنِهِ فِي يَوْمٍ مَطِيرٍ: إِذَا قُلْتَ: أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللهِ، فَلَا تَقُلْ: حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ، قُلْ: صَلُّوا فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ. قَالَ: فَكَأَنَّ النَّاسَ اسْتَنْكَرُوا ذَاكَ، فَقَالَ: «أَتَعْجَبُونَ مِنْ ذَا!؟ قَدْ فَعَلَ ذَا مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي، إِنَّ الْجُمُعَةَ عَزْمَةٌ، وَإِنِّي كَرِهْتُ أَنْ أُحْرِجَكُمْ فَتَمْشُوا فِي الطِّينِ وَالدَّحْضِ – صحيح مسلم ٦٩٩